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Reds lack of hitting over the last month

The good news is that in September so far, heading into the last game of the month, the Reds are 14-11. The bad news is that they have been outscored 72 to 78 runs, and that they are averaging only 2.88 runs per game this month.

I am worried about the hitting as they head into the playoffs. Here are the hitting stats over the last 30 days, in descending order of batting average, players with 15+ monthly ABs:

Joey Votto: .333/.528/.429 for an OPS of .957, 0 HRs.
Xavier Paul: .314/368/.400 for an OPS of .768, 0 HRs.
Miguel Cairo: .313/.313/.375 for an OPS of .688, 0 HRs.
Dioneer Navarro: .304/.333/.413 for an OPS of .746. 0 HRs.
Ryan Ludwick: .291/.385/.400 for an OPS of .785, 1 HR.
Zach Cozart: .286/.333/.429 for an OPS of .762, 1 HR.
Jay Bruce: .234/.308/.543 for an OPS of .850, 7 HRs.
Ryan Hanigan: .224/.283/.265 for an OPS of .548, 0 Hrs.
Brandon Phillips: .214/.267/.327 for an OPS of .593, 3 HRs.
Chris Heisey: .211/.318/.316 for an OPS of .634, 1 HR.
Todd Frazier: .192/.250/.274 for an OPS of .524, 1 HR.
Scott Rolen: .191/.250/.277 for an OPS of .527, 1 HR.
Wilson Valdez: .182/.234/.205 for an OPS of .439, 0 HRs.
Drew Stubbs: .167/.231/.167 for an OPS of .397, 0 HRs.

It's like when Joey came back, everyone else decided to quit hitting. And this is the average over the last 30 days, so it's not just a short slump, but really a month long slump. Hopefully they can pull out of it for the playoffs....

Re: Reds lack of hitting over the last month

Originally Posted by mbgrayson

The good news is that in September so far, heading into the last game of the month, the Reds are 14-11. The bad news is that they have been outscored 72 to 78 runs, and that they are averaging only 2.88 runs per game this month.

I am worried about the hitting as they head into the playoffs. Here are the hitting stats over the last 30 days, in descending order of batting average, players with 15+ monthly ABs:

Joey Votto: .333/.528/.429 for an OPS of .957, 0 HRs.
Xavier Paul: .314/368/.400 for an OPS of .768, 0 HRs.
Miguel Cairo: .313/.313/.375 for an OPS of .688, 0 HRs.
Dioneer Navarro: .304/.333/.413 for an OPS of .746. 0 HRs.
Ryan Ludwick: .291/.385/.400 for an OPS of .785, 1 HR.
Zach Cozart: .286/.333/.429 for an OPS of .762, 1 HR.
Jay Bruce: .234/.308/.543 for an OPS of .850, 7 HRs.
Ryan Hanigan: .224/.283/.265 for an OPS of .548, 0 Hrs.
Brandon Phillips: .214/.267/.327 for an OPS of .593, 3 HRs.
Chris Heisey: .211/.318/.316 for an OPS of .634, 1 HR.
Todd Frazier: .192/.250/.274 for an OPS of .524, 1 HR.
Scott Rolen: .191/.250/.277 for an OPS of .527, 1 HR.
Wilson Valdez: .182/.234/.205 for an OPS of .439, 0 HRs.
Drew Stubbs: .167/.231/.167 for an OPS of .397, 0 HRs.

It's like when Joey came back, everyone else decided to quit hitting. And this is the average over the last 30 days, so it's not just a short slump, but really a month long slump. Hopefully they can pull out of it for the playoffs....

Re: Reds lack of hitting over the last month

Adding Ludwick back to the mix at the expense of either Heisey or Stubbs and Cozart back in instead of Valdez can't hurt. But the lack of production up and down the lineup -- especially from dependable cogs like Phillips, Frazier, Rolen -- is a huge issue and does not bode well.

They've got six days to snap out of it, I guess. That's really all we can hope for.

In 167 fewer PA, Ryan Howard has 1 more RBI than Votto. Now, to be fair, Howard has converted more of his RBI opportunities than Votto has, but just look at the opportunities. In those 167 extra PA, Votto has had 2 fewer PA with a guy on 3B and just 4 more with a guy on 2B.

If you want to know why this offense has sputtered, look no further than the historically bad performances from the guys batting ahead of our most productive hitters.

Last edited by RedsManRick; 09-30-2012 at 01:30 PM.

Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.

Re: Reds lack of hitting over the last month

If you thought Drew Stubbs couldn't get any worse at the plate, think again.
In July (108 ABs) .482 OPS
September (59 ABs) .404 OPS.
He's now at .618 for the season, working his way towards the Juan Castro line (career OPS .595).

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."

Re: Reds lack of hitting over the last month

Originally Posted by dsmith421

Adding Ludwick back to the mix at the expense of either Heisey or Stubbs and Cozart back in instead of Valdez can't hurt.

That was my first thought--I'm not as worried as I might be because the team is recovering physically. Add Votto working his way back, and I think they'll be okay in the postseason. Not great, but good enough.

Re: Reds lack of hitting over the last month

I'll take the 2nd seed vs. the Giants over knocking the Cards out of the playoffs and topping Washington for the #1 seed. The prospect of five straight in Busch is not a good thing. Let the Cards see if they can take down the Braves and the Nats, then we have home field advantage against them anyhow.

Re: Reds lack of hitting over the last month

The lack of hitting honestly doesn't concern me that much. This team's bread and butter is pitching and defense. Is the offense going to light up elite pitching staffs? Of course not. But I think they're good enough to scratch across three or four runs and win close games. In the postseason, that's all that really matters .

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